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Old 17-07-2013, 21:21
bazaar1
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Any ideas? Pup is walked and entertained properly, but has started digging, I think he enjoys it! My garden does not.....

Will ask at work, but figured Ds may have had some experience of little sh*t puppies. By the looks of it it's quite common with lurches. My sofa I'd also a victim.

Everything I've read seems to be punishment/negative based but I'd rather go nice route if I can. He's having an extra walk per day to see if that helps, but I don't think it's boredom, I think it's just puppy investigation as he's got hold of a bit of wood from the bottom of the fence, so now it's about finding more.
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Old 17-07-2013, 22:13
Tt88
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My dog like to dig. What weve found works best is as soon as he starts digging to firmly say no and pick him up and move him away from the hole. We then distract him with his toys and praise him for playing with those.

We kept doing it and now when he wanders over to the hole as soon as hes about to dig, we only have to say his name firmly or say no and he stops.

You have to be consistant though. I dont care if he digs a hole by my partner doesnt like it. I used to turn a blind eye to it which made it worse because it confused him. Now we both say no he knows not to do it.
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Old 17-07-2013, 23:09
Pull2Open
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Get an old beer or soft drink can and 1/3 fill it with gravel then throw it on the ground next to him when he starts doing it (but don't let him see the can so pick it up quickly) he will eventually associate the horrendous noise with the digging and he'll stop!
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Old 18-07-2013, 07:20
molliepops
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Some dogs adore digging our approach has always been to set aside an small area for them to dig to their hearts content, fill in the holes every few weeks burying toys and chews for them to find. Great game !
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Old 18-07-2013, 11:54
bazaar1
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Some dogs adore digging our approach has always been to set aside an small area for them to dig to their hearts content, fill in the holes every few weeks burying toys and chews for them to find. Great game !
Problem is, I'm in rented and she relayed the lawn when I moved in, so can't allow it.

Thanks to the other advice, but again they are negative responses and I want to try diversionary type ones first. I've read that putting thier poo in the spot where they dig helps. Anyone tried that?
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Old 18-07-2013, 11:55
bazaar1
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Tt88 sorry didn't see your post. This is what I'm doing but I don't want to have to supervise him inhe garden 24/7 as I give him the freedom to wander in and out, it's only when he's unsupervised that he's doing it! I could keep him in when I can't watch him but I feel that's a bit mean.
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Old 18-07-2013, 12:24
molliepops
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What about a childrens sand pit with toys treat buried in it ? that may just be enough digging to keep him happy.
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Old 18-07-2013, 12:50
bazaar1
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What about a childrens sand pit with toys treat buried in it ? that may just be enough digging to keep him happy.
We have one (for the kids) which he just lies in

I'm sure it's just puppy inquisitiveness but he's so quick that I look out and find another hole! Little sh*t
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Old 18-07-2013, 13:39
Pull2Open
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Tt88 sorry didn't see your post. This is what I'm doing but I don't want to have to supervise him inhe garden 24/7 as I give him the freedom to wander in and out, it's only when he's unsupervised that he's doing it! I could keep him in when I can't watch him but I feel that's a bit mean.
I'm afraid full supervision is going to be essential until he is trained not to dig!
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Old 18-07-2013, 13:49
bazaar1
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I'm afraid full supervision is going to be essential until he is trained not to dig!
Problem is its not me during the day! It's my child minder who is watching the kids more than the dogs! I don't want to crate him 9-5 whilst I'm working, plus we have a dog flap so locking it would be unfair on the other one!

Blooming pup! I've spent the day burying poo in the hope that might help, if not he's going to be banned from the garden for a bit (unsupervised), which I feel is a punishment for him, and I really don't want to so that.
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Old 18-07-2013, 13:52
molliepops
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Just my personal musings but I wouldn't give a pup free access unsupervised to a garden anyway, too much they can get into (digging) and when the weather changes they won't be used to asking to go out or being kept in doors.
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Old 18-07-2013, 13:58
bazaar1
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Sorry if I seem dismissive, I'm not, I'm taking it all on board but just tying to find a working solution!
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Old 18-07-2013, 13:59
bazaar1
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Just my personal musings but I wouldn't give a pup free access unsupervised to a garden anyway, too much they can get into (digging) and when the weather changes they won't be used to asking to go out or being kept in doors.
It's via dog flap (although the door is open ATM) and when I say unsupervised I mean I'm in the front room or kitchen, not out. They are crated whenever I go out or even upstairs for any length of time.
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Old 18-07-2013, 14:16
molliepops
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The trouble is unless 100% supervised I can't see an obvious answer to your problem. Some things just are and no amount of looking for solutions will stop them happening. Puppies and certain breeds are diggers, I just feel lucky tiny Betty is our digger as Big girl Mollie would devastate a garden if she dug LOL
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Old 18-07-2013, 18:02
Pull2Open
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Problem is its not me during the day! It's my child minder who is watching the kids more than the dogs! I don't want to crate him 9-5 whilst I'm working, plus we have a dog flap so locking it would be unfair on the other one!

Blooming pup! I've spent the day burying poo in the hope that might help, if not he's going to be banned from the garden for a bit (unsupervised), which I feel is a punishment for him, and I really don't want to so that.
Can you not ask the child minder to put the dog on the lead when she goes in the garden with him, while you are training. The long game is the only real answer here, there are no such things as quick fixes with dogs!
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Old 18-07-2013, 18:17
bazaar1
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Can you not ask the child minder to put the dog on the lead when she goes in the garden with him, while you are training. The long game is the only real answer here, there are no such things as quick fixes with dogs!
I don't like restricting him at home, but will ask her to continue the distraction tactics I'm using today, if he starts just not speaking but moving him away and carrying on as normal, it's prevented any holes today! She's outside most of the day with the kids ATM anyway so I'm sure she won't mind.

Hoping the poo in the holes will help too, he's not been near it since I filled it in
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Old 18-07-2013, 19:18
tim59
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Some breed of dogs just love to dig, we have fenced off half our garden so we a nice area for ourselfs, but our husky lovessssssssssss to dig holes all over. Not my dog but a good vid http://youtu.be/VGkJbEmORfo
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Old 18-07-2013, 19:27
bazaar1
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Some breed of dogs just love to dig, we have fenced off half our garden so we a nice area for ourselfs, but our husky lovessssssssssss to dig holes all over. Not my dog but a good vid http://youtu.be/VGkJbEmORfo
I'm keeping my fingers crossed its a puppy thing! Looking at lurched research it seems to be a under three thing, so hoping he'll be cured at some point!

We have a few huskies in ATM and one of them will dig within seconds of getting to the paddock. She's obsessed!
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Old 18-07-2013, 19:28
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He's had four walks today plus agility training so is now asleep, hoping that an exhausted puppy is a good puppy.
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Old 21-07-2013, 20:29
bazaar1
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Update! No more holes, I spoke to the guys at work and they suggested a dogs only sandpit too. So am going to get one this week.

Ironically one of the customers today had the same issue, so I had some good advice for her from here!

Thanks guys. Pointy dogs, a new adventure for me,
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Old 21-07-2013, 21:05
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Hello, missed this post. Our dog is part lurcher and was on a mission to get to Australia. We got her a turtle sand pit which put all her toys in, a bit like outdoor crate training. Hope it works for you
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Old 21-07-2013, 21:05
molliepops
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That's great, your thread reminded me very much of our late Benny and Lucy dogs, both loved digging and one night my husband came home, first I heard was a mangled shout and a crash, he had fallen in their latest "pit" and gone crashing through the shed door and ended up tangled up in some pea netting with a bucket on his head. Shouldn't have laughed but well sometimes you just cannot help it Did teach us a lesson - carry a torch when you come home in the dark !
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Old 21-07-2013, 21:16
bazaar1
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Ha ha mollie, I can see the same thing happening to me!

He's been really good since we've been moving him every time he starts and he's not been near the first few holes since I put the poo in them. It could also be the extra walks, but I suspect it's just that new interesting things have taken his fancy (like the feather he found and won't leave for a second!)
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Old 21-07-2013, 21:26
molliepops
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Yes keep them busy and tire them out always works well, our latest is snoozing at the moment exhausted after her frantic killing of a rather fluffy long handled duster - duster will never be the same again I am sure LOL
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Old 22-07-2013, 05:40
bazaar1
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Yes keep them busy and tire them out always works well, our latest is snoozing at the moment exhausted after her frantic killing of a rather fluffy long handled duster - duster will never be the same again I am sure LOL
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